Ventilating apparatus



April 30, 1946. W- c, PRQSS .2,399,384

VENTILATING APPARATUS Filed March 19, 1942 10 15 ffg J0 L xi I AINV ENT OR.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 30, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT' CFFICE e i v2,399,3are f VENTILATING APPARATUS e William C. Pross, Bainbridge, N. Y., assignortto Bendix Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind.,

a corporation of Delaware Application March 19, 1942, Serial No. 435,255

' (cies- 1) 8 Claims.

".L'hisV invention relates to Ventilating apparatus andl more particularly to means adapted to sep arate moisture and other foreign matter from air while permitting tliefpassage of 'the air therethrough to a space to be ventilated. y

One of the. objects of fthe present invention is to provide a novel simplified ventilator of thebafile type'adapted for use in connection with magneto casings, distributor housings or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ventilator of the above type which is constructed in a novel manner from a small number of simple and rugged parts.

Still another object is to provide novel ventilating means for closed c'as'ings, said means being sol constructed as to occupy only a .relatively small space as compared with prior devices of like capacity. Y

A further object is to provide novel Ventilating apparatus which may be4 readily. and rapidly manufactured, assembled and installed at low cost.

` Another object is to provide a novelly constructed casing Ventilating means which vis highlyeilicient and yet is not apt to become clogged or rendered inoperative in any way, the same being so constructed as to facilitate the discharging of moisture or the like which is separated from the air stream.

The above and further objects and novel ifeatures of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read inv connection with the accompanying drawing. It is to. be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose. of illustration only and is not intended as a definition lof the limits of the invention, reference* for this` latter purpose being had primarily to the appended claims. Y

4In the drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, Y

Fig, 1 is asectional side elevation of a device embodyinga preferred form of the invention;

` Fig. 2 -is a transverse sectional view of said device, the section being taken substantially on line 2-2lo'fFig.1; Fig. y3 isa view similar to Fig. 1, showing'arrother preferred embodiment of the invention; and,

Fig.` 4 is a transverse sectional view taken sub- `stantiallyalong.line 4--4 ofFig. 3.

The two ventilators illustrated in the drawing,

by-Qgway of example, are. enlargedscale representations of actual structures embodving'the 'invern` tion made by'diiierent modesof manufacture, which structures are being commercially em ployed for Ventilating the casings of magnetos and distributors used in the ignition systems cf internal combustion engines on military and industrial aircraftI and the like. These preferred embodiments are so constructed that the same may be readily adapted to use on existing casings as Well as on new casings. Each of the il1ustrated structures is primarily constituted by a simple tubular casingV in which a simply constructed unitary .barde member is secured for effecting a desired 'number of ychanges in the course of the air owing, through said tubular casing into the space to be ventilated. While changing the path orwcourse ofthe yair stream, the velocity thereof is also varied by the baille member Vso that moisture and other particles of foreign matter entrained with the airare separated therefrom.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the novel ventilator comprises a tubular` metallic casing Ill which is provided with internal threads in Vthe upper, enlarged end thereof that cooperate with external threads on a tubular adapter I I. The latter has an external flange I2 that `engages the outer wallY of a housing I3, which is to be ventilated, and an externally threaded portion I4 which extends through an opening in said housing wall` A nut I5 cooperates withsaid lastmentioned threaded portion Sfor securing the adapter in place so'that air may ow through casing Ill and the adapter into housing I3, only a portion of the latter being shown. It will, of course, be understood that casing I0 may be secured to housing I3 in any other suitable manner, the adapter securing means shown being suitable primarily for adapting the ventilator to existing housings or those having thin walls.

Novel means are provided in casing IIl for the purpose of directing the flow of air therethrough and for varying the velocity of the air stream in such a manner as` to bring about the separation from the air of water and other particles of foreign matter entrained with the air. As illustrated, said means comprises a system Vof baiiles formed by a member I6 which is made from a single piece of metal or other suitable material. Baffie member I6 includes a central or core portion I1 anda plurality yof axially-spaced,v annularly-extending `radial ns I8. Each of said vfins extends transversely -across a substantial portion of the annular space around'core I 1. The periphery ofeach baffle -or-ny has close lsliding engageriient-V with vthe inner- -surface of casingl I 0, :acceptl that-leach is cut away or terminatespas at I9, to provide openings 20 and permit the flow of air through casing I0. The ns or bailles are so arranged that successive passages 20 are 1ocated at opposite sides of casing lll, thereby causing the air to be diverted from one side of the casing to the other between successive baffles.

It will be understood that the areas and shapes as well as the relative positions of successive passages' 29 may be` varied ,considerablyl in each device or in diierent devices, depending upon'the use to be made of the ventilator. Some or all of the passages may, for example, be sectorshaped and successive ones may be located 90"t or some other suitable angle from each other. The areas of the passages are chosen ineach the same may, of course, be varied to suit the instance to avoid any re-entrainment of water,...` 4

' the water andi other foreign matter which sepor other particles which are separated from the air stream. Baiile member I6 may be die-cast from a light alloy, such as an aluminum alloy, or it may be constructed in any other suitable manner. If desired, said baille member may be formed by machining a cylindrical piece of stockv to formaxiallyspaced annularflns thereon and then cutting portions of'said fins off, such as'at I9.

As `viewed in the drawing, the uppermost fin I8 is provided with a cylindrical, axially-extending flange 2l` which engagesr an' internal flange 22 in casing ll) to limitthe movement of Ybaille memberl into said casing. Member I6 may be held in position in casing I0 in any suitable manner, such asV by means of a washer or ring 23 which is engaged by a rolled or spun-in portion 24 of casingl. It will be seen that baille member I6 is thus so constructed that it may be placed in casing Ill-in any angularposition.

In order to reduce to a minimum the possibility that the water separated from the air -will be againpickecl up by theair stream, the upper surfaces of baliles I8 are so shaped as to vcause the separated water to flow outwardly to the wall of casing I9 or inwardly to core l1. In the form shown, said surfaces slope upwardly and inwardly from the casing wall to the center core, thereby causing the water to flow to the casing wall and thence Voff the baffles at point |9a (Fig. 2) and down said wall.Y The water and other deposited particles are thus kept out of Vthe air stream as much as possible. l

A'second embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, comprises a tubular casing 25 threaded into the wall of a housing V26, as at 2l. Slidably extending into casing 25 is a novel air directing or baffle Ymember which is constituted by a metallic tube 28 having a relatively thin wall section.` Atsuitable axial and angular intervals, portions of said wall are pressed `inwardly to form a plurality of integrallips29 which constitute baffles for diverting the course and varying the velocity of air flowing through tube 28 intohousing 26.

As shown, the angular spacing of successive lips 29 is 90"., but this spacing, as well as the axial spacing of said-lips, may be varied.- Each lip or baffle 29 extends inwardly from the wall of tube 28 to a point beyond the longitudina1 center line of the tube and outwardly relative to housing 26 at a suitable angle to said center line. In the form shown, this angle is substantially 45. The lower or outer edge 30 ofeach lip 29 is`formed by cutting the wall of tube 28 along an arcuate line 3| which extends for approximately 120 around the tube. For a purposeto appear hereinafter, each baille or lip preferably has an arcuate contour, asbest indicated .by the section at 32, thereby making the upper surface l Vexigencies of particular instances. '1s

The prevention of any re-entrainment of the moisture and other particles 'is also enhanced by the fact that arates from the air and drops onto the convex upper surfaces of the baffles is caused by the contour of the latter to iiow outwardly to the lines of intersection 34, 3 4 of the baffles 29 and the wall of tiibe28and thence downwardly 'along said Wall. 'Thedepo'sited water "and other particles thus draining out of thebale tube do not fall into the space'withinthe air stream, butrather tend to follow the wall of the tubewhere the Ysame are least affected by the air stream.

Inthe embodiment 'of Fig. 3'it is desirable to employ as many baiiles 29 as the available space vvillA permit but it is necessary to provide only enough to prevent any direct-,flow through tube 28. With baflies of the size and in the positions illustrated, four are enough to produce effective results.

lBai-llev tube 28 is preferably positioned vin vcasing 25 by an external' flange 35 at lthe end there-- of, said ilange vengaging an internal shoulder -in said casing. If desired, a ring 36 may be interposed between flange 35 and a spun-in portion 31 of casing 25. Inv either of the illustrated embodiments of the invention, thebaflle member I6 or 28 may be held in place in any suitable manner, such, for example, as bymeans of a nut having screw threaded 'engagement withcasing I0 or 25I respectively.

The manufacture'of tube 28 may be accompllshed by inserting a plunger having a suitably shaped beveled end into said tube for supporting the latter internally along the line of cut.30, 3l, whilea beveled cutting tool moves in at right angles tothe axis of the tube. The beveled cutting tool is providedv with a convex end surface for shaping the baffles 29 in the manner described above during the cutting and pressing-inof the latter-. After all of the bailies have been formed, tube 28 may be pushed through a sizing die to restore the roundness thereof, if necessary, and flange 35 may then be spun thereon.

There is thus provided a very simple and' yet effective means for Ventilating an enclosed space, while at the same time preventing the entrance of an excessive amount of moisture or other particles of foreign matter. The novel devices'provided comprise a minimum number of parts, which lend themselves to rapid and quantity manufacture at low cost. Additionally, the novel Ventilating means comprehended by the invention may be adapted to use in vmany environments without necessitating` the making of complicated castings or complicated ventilating'units of the nature heretofore employed.

Although only two embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described inl'detail, lit is to be expressly Vunderstood that the same is not limited to; these: .specific structures: i, Varian changes, such as those mentioned above, and also changes in the design and arrangement of parts illustrated may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. For a definition of the limits of the invention, reference is had primarily to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a tubular casing, a tube slidably inserted in said casing, said tube having axially-spaced, angularly-spaced wall portions pressed inwardly to form baflies in said tube, the outer or lower edge of each of said baiiles being formed by cutting the wall of the tube and each baffle extending across the longitudinal center line of said tube, the number of said baflies being suiiicient to prevent any direct longitudinal ow of air through said tube and casing, and means for securing said tube in said casing.

2. In apparatus oi the class described, a casing having a passage therethrough, a tube slidably inserted in said casing, a plurality of baffles in said tube constituted by inwardly pressed integral portions of the wall of said tube, each of said baffles being angularly spaced around said tube with respect to the baies adjacent thereto and extending across the center of said tube, said baiiles being effective to restrict air flow in said passage and to prevent any direct ilow of air longitudinally through said tube and casing, and means for securing said tube in said casing.

3. A Ventilating device comprising a casing having an air passage therethrough, a tube inserted into said casing in close engagement with the inner wall of the latter, integral triangular-like portions of the wall of said tube being pressed inwardly to form a series of baiiles which are effective to compel air flowing through said tube and casing to follow a tortuous path, and means for securing said tube in said casing.

4. A Ventilating device comprising a tubular casing, a tube inserted into said casing and having close engagement with the inner wall of the latter, the wall of said tube having a plurality of circumferentially-extending arcuate cuts therein and portions of said wall bordering said cuts bent inwardly across the center line of the tube, said bent-in portions being angularly spaced with respect to each other around said tube, and means for securing said tube in said casing.

5. A Ventilating device comprising a casing having a passage therethrough, a perforated tube in said passage engaging the walls thereof, the perforations in said tube being formed by pressing axially and angularly-spaced portions of the `wall thereof inwardly to form bailies for restricting the flow cf air through said tube, the inner or upper surfaces of each of said baiiles being convex, said baiiles being so arranged as to eiect a plurality of changes in the direction of flow of the air passing through said tube, and means for securing said tube in said casing.

6. A baffle gang `for a gas conduit comprising a cylindrical supporting member, a plurality of inclined baffles secured to said supporting member in spaced relation to one another, said baiiles being arcuate in cross section and extending in a plurality of different directions into overlapping relationship at the center of the member so as to compel gas passing through the member to take a tortuous path and to discharge upon the baffles a portion of its entrained moisture and solids, the downstream sides of the bailies having an inclination that deflects discharge moisture and solids away from the path of the gas stream. n

7. A baille gang for a gas conduit comprising a cylindrical supporting member, a plurality of inclined baiiles secured to said supporting member and staggered about the wall of the supporting member in spaced relation to one another, said bailles being arcuate in cross section and extending into overlapped relationship at the center of the member so as to compel gas passing through the member to take a tortuous path and to discharge upon the baffles a portion of its entrained moisture and solids, the downstream sides of the bailies having an inclination that deflects discharged moisture and solids away from the path of the gas stream.

8. A liner for a Ventilating duct comprising a cylinder having a plurality of wall sections severed along arcuate lines and inbent to form bafiles which extend in a plurality of different directions into overlapping relation at the center of the cylinder.

WILLIAM C. PROSS. 

